Bempton Circuit - 12th September 2017

You said next time I was in the area, drop in for tea!

A glorious sunny morning called me to engage in a good, fresh walk and none better than the "Bempton circuit" (Bempton, Buckton, Hoddy Cows Lane, Buckton Cliffs, Bempton Cliffs and back to Bempton village). The SW wind was a challenge but birds in flight zipped by before bins could be raised. Buckton pond held only Moorhens and indeed Hoddy Cows Lane was very quiet. A few Yellowhammers, Linnets, Goldfinches, Blackbirds were seen distantly and good numbers of Hirundines overhead. Just past the dell, Meadow Pipits and Skylarks took refuge in the harvested fields. I was beginning to think the only action my camera would see was the on/off switch! Things improved on Buckton Cliffs with an in flight group of six Whinchat, a Peregrine and a Buzzard. On the cliffs many Hirundines were flying through including a Sand Martin. Towards Bempton Cliffs, a couple of Swifts flew through. At this stage, with no camera activity, I thought "thank goodness for Gannets!".

Glorious Gannets

I decided to walk around the Bempton Cliffs nature trail, but all was quiet here. The dell was a little more productive with Spotted Flycatcher and Common Whitethroat.

Spotted Flycatcher

Common Whitethroat